A day in the life of a Super ATT Air Tightness Testing Engineer

My day begins the day before. Let me explain.

Approximately 5.00 p.m. each day I check my emails and online diary for the next day’s job sheet. Thursday, I have an a.m. appointment for a pre air test inspection with Contractor1. I also have three air tests booked in for Taylor Wimpy, in the afternoon. I check with Google my E.T.A. for the first site. I see that is going to be approximately two hours travelling taking into account any delays I am already aware of such as road works etc. I telephone the site manager to advise my E.T.A. and check the details on the job sheet. He confirms everything is ready and he looks forward to seeing me in the morning. I repeat this process with each of the other sites.

This morning I start my day at 6.00 a.m.

I arrive on site at 8.00.a.m. on the dot and Mike (the site manager) says the words I want to hear – “Hi Brian, kettles on”. After the preliminaries we walk around the site and he says he expects to be ready for the test in two to three weeks. Inspecting the work done I confirm that this should be the case. He points out a few concerns and I spend approximately an hour explaining how he can deal with these and any area that he may need to give special attention. While we walk around, I also show him what will be required to be opened / closed / sealed in readiness for the air test. I have been on site for approximately an hour and a half. I say my goodbyes and tell him to give me a call if he has any problems.

I then telephone Jed (site manager) at Contractor2 and tell him I am on my way and should be with him in about an hour. I arrive an hour and half later due to a hold up on the A1. When I get on site I again hear my favourite words – “Hi Brian, tea no sugar”. He shows me the plots I am testing and my heart sinks. They are about to tarmac the road so I have to park off site and carry the kit to the plots. After approximately thirty minutes and a suspected heart attack carrying all the heavy equipment I need for the test, suddenly Jed appears and with a huge grin asks me if I need a hand.

All the necessary temporary sealing is in place, which is one less job to do.

These are reasonably small plots and so I can set up my desk in the kitchen. I get my paperwork ready. Jed introduces me to Mark the assistant manager, who has never witnessed an air test before.I briefly explain the technical process to him and explain in more detail as he watches the test.

I start by fitting my expandable doorframe into the front entrance. I then put my fan in place and connect it to the power source, which in turn is connected to the manometer. I place my external tube outside and connect that to the manometer, place my internal tube in one of the bedrooms and connect that to the manometer. I quickly perform an envelope calculation of the plot. The whole process from start to finish is written onto a data sheet and I am careful to make sure that as I go along all the details are logged. I check the external temperature and wind speed and check the internal temperature. I also check the barometric pressure. I inspect the plot and check that all windows and trickle vents are closed, all internal doors are open, and the heating is switched off. I ask Mark if he has any questions before we begin. I turn the manometer on, and wait a few seconds for everything to settle, take five static readings and then uncover the fan. I start the fan, the building pressure is fine and I take nine to ten pairs of different readings (building and fan pressures). I turn off the fan, replace its cover and take another five static readings. I check the barometric pressure, the internal temperature, the external temperature and the wind speed. I then input all of the data into the computer which gives the air permeability of the building and results in a pass. Mark is suitably impressed, and Jed gives a sigh of relief. I produce the report on-site and then repeat the process in the next plot, which also results in a pass, and move onto the last plot.

Unfortunately this plot fails the air test as it slightly over the target needed. I take out the smoke pencil and search the building for leakage points. We find a couple of large hole behind the bath panel (soil pipe unsealed, and plasterboard not sealed). I tell Mark that if he has them sealed I can try the test again and hopefully get a better result. I carry on with some paperwork while Mark has this done. I then repeat the test and this time it reaches its target. Jed is really grateful, and thanks me for helping him find the problem and giving him the time to put things right to get him a pass. I email the reports to the office, for checking, and sending out. I have been on site for just under four hours. I say my goodbyes, and set off for home, which is an hour and a quarter away.

When I get home I sit down to a nice cup of coffee, open my computer to check Friday’s job sheet. I have a room integrity test with Balfour Beatty and the whole process starts again.